By MICHELLE CALIGAN

PHOTO BY BOCHIC ESTRADA, GMANetwork.com

 

"Two years nga ba? Talaga?"

 

This was Christian Bautista's reaction when we asked why it took him two years to come up with another album. His last album X Plus, a collection of songs that commemorated his 10th year in the industry, was released in 2012.

 

On November 15, he will launch Soundtrack, which contains his renditions of 13 of the most-loved movie theme songs. It includes 'Up Where We Belong', the theme song of the GMA Koreanovela Empress Ki. It was originally performed by Joe Cocker for the 1982 film An Officer and A Gentleman.

 

"Sabi nga nila antagal nitong album na 'to, pero it's a good album. I really, really like the songs. Ito 'yung mga well-loved theme songs, and we added the soundtrack of the GMA show, Seasons of Love. It's very catchy and fun. We got favorite duets also like Come What May, After All, Cruisin', The Way We Were, and love songs like When You Say Nothing At All, Way Back Into Love. Andaming good songs," he shares in an exclusive interview with GMANetwork.com after his live chat last November 6.

 

When asked why he decided to do a cover album, this is what Asia's Romantic Balladeer had to say.

 

"Sometimes you have to go back to doing covers. Also, after this, I can't wait to go back to originals. Cycle lang naman 'yan eh."

 

How were the songs selected?

 

"We were a team, Universal [Records] and I. We researched our most loved movie theme songs, and we boiled it down to this. Andami pa actually na magaganda, so we'll see kung may part two."

 

His album has four duets, and Christian revealed that he is grateful for the chance to record these tracks with four of the country's powerful female voices - Rachelle Anne Go, Nikki Gil, Karylle, and Julie Anne San Jose.

 

"These are all my friends, and I'm so happy that they were able to record with me. Ang ganda, ang ganda ng kinalabasan. Ewan ko kung mapapansin mo, in almost all my albums andaming duets. Mahilig kasi ako sa duet talaga."

 

Soundtrack is now available for download on iTunes. It will be officially launched on November 15, Saturday, 7:00 p.m. at the Eastwood City Open Park.

 

Catch Christian Bautista in Strawberry Lane, weekdays after 24 Oras, Marian every Saturday, and Sunday All Stars every Sunday.